Kindergarten teaching apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H BODEY.

KINDERGARTEN TEACHING APPARATUS.

Patented Jan. 15, 1889.

me lwanalfiodey Y #49 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

KINDERGARTEN TEACHING APPARATUS. No. 396,067. Patented Jan.'15, 1889.

NITED STATES PATENT Trice.

HOIVARD BODEY, OF NORRISTOIVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

KINDERGARTEN TEACHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,067, dated January15, 1889.

Application filed April '7, 1888. Serial No. 269,953. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOWARD BODEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norristown, in the county of llIontgomery and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in KindergatenTeaching Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a kindergarten apparatus for teaching spelling;and it consists in certain peculiarities in the construction andcombination of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents my improved kindergarten apparatusin vertical section from front to rear. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation ofthe same with a portion of the back broken away. Fig. 3 is a perspectiveof the apparatus. Fig. i to 9 are detail views, hereinafter referred to.

The numeral 1 designates the cabinet or casing that incloses theoperative parts of the apparatus. This casing is preferably made ofwood, with a removable back, 2, and a thin sheet-metal front, 3, that issuitably shaped to correspond with the contour of the cabinet sides.lateral edges and at top and bottom to lap over and beneath the cabinetsides 4- and beneath the top 5, as shown in Figs. .1, 3, and 9, wherebythe edges of the metal front are concealcd.

In the upper part of the front 3 is an opening, (3, for exhibitingpictures. About the center is a series of openings, 7, for (xhibitingthe letters of the alphabet, and near the bottom is an opening, 8,through which protrude a number of finger-keys, 9, for use in operatingthe alphabet-wheels. As shown, the sheet-metal front 3 is formed with aseri s of vertical segmental grooves, 10, to receive ratchet-teeth onthe alphabet-wheels, and thus enable the wheels to be placed near theopenings 7, as hereinafter explained.

In the casing or cabinet 1 is a stationary horizontal shaft, 11, onwhich are loosely mounted a number of cup-shaped alphabetwheels, 12, theperiphery of each wheel being in line with one of the openings 7 in thefront of the cabinet.

On the shaft 11, between the wheels 12, are spools or washers 13 tomaintain a proper The metal front 3 is flanged on both space between thewheels. The letters of the alphabet are placed in regular order 011 theflanged periphery of each alphabet-wheel, so that as the wheel isrotated the letters will be displayed in succession through the properopenings in the front of the casin g.

Each finger-key t) is attached to or formed on the forward end of akey-lever, 15, a number of which are pivoted in the lower part of thecasing. To the rear end of each key-lever is attached a standard, 16,that projects upward behind the adjacent alphabet-wheel. A cord, 17, issecured to the upper part of the standard 16, from which it extendsdownward and forward beneath and in frictional contact with theperiphery of the alphabet-wheel and is attached at the forward end to aspring, 18, supported in the lower forward part of the cabinet.

As shown, the spring 18 consists of a rubber band, a number of which maybe suspended on a transverse shaft, 19; but it is obvious that anysuitable variety of spring can be employed as well. hen the key 9 isdepressed, the standard 16 will be moved up ward and toward the rear ofthe alphabetwheel, thereby drawing the cord 17 along the periphery ofthe wheel against the contractile action of the spring 18, and causingthe wheel to rotate upward and forward. B y repeatedly depressing thekey 9 a series of impulses will be imparted to the wheel 12, whereby itcan be rotated sufficiently to display any required letters at theopening in the front of the cabinet. In order to effect a steadymovement of the alphabet-wheels and prevent backlash, each wheel isprovided with ratchet-teeth 20 to engage a pawl, 21, pivoted above thewheel.

The ratchet-teeth 20 are stamped or struck from the metal of which thecup-shaped wheel 12 is preferably composed. These ratchetteeth arestruck from the closed side of the wheel, and preferably bent into avertical posit-ion, 0r tangentially to the axis of the wheel, as shownin Fig. 5; but, if desired, they may be bent horizontally, either inwardor outward, as shown. in Figs. 6 and 7. \Vhen the vertical ratchct-teethare used, they are received in the segmental grooves 10, which thuspermit the alphabetrwheels to come close to the openings 7 in thecabinet-front. The pawls 21 are pivoted on a shaft, 22, above thealphabet whccls, and,as'shown in Fig. it, each pawl l is provided withtwo pivotal. bearings, '23, connected by a brace or cross-piece, 2%,that exf tends transversely above the alphabet-wheel. By thisconstruction the pawl is strengthened or stiffened and its action on thewheel made more effective and steady. The pawl-tooth is bent laterallyin position to engage the ratchet-teeth 20, and each pawl has adepending arm, 26, of sutlieient weight to hold the pawl down intoengagement with said ratchetteeth, so to prevent backlash.

In the upper part of the cabinet is journalcd a pair of rollers, 27, forattachment of a pictorial strip band or apron, 28, that; is held up tothe opening 6 with the assistance of a ten- 1 sion-roller, 2.". Ifdesired, the opening 0 may be glazed, as shown in Fig. l. The rollers 27are connected by a belt or cord, 30, whereby both rollers can be turnedtogether. One end of each roller projects through the side of thecabinet, and is provided with a knob, '31, through which it can beturned. I t will thus be seen that by manipulating the proper roller thepictorial strip can be moved in either direct-ion, as desired, so as todisplay its pictures in succession.

On one of the rollers 27, l'ieyond the edge of the pictorial strip 28, alug, 32, which at each rotation of the roller in either direction willcome in contact with a bend or projection, 33, on a spring-arm, 3t, thatcarries a hammer, 35, for striking a gong, 36, the springhammer and thegongbeing supported in the cabinet in any suitable manner. The hamnierand gong are so arranged that as each picture is exhibited, withoutregard to the direction in which the pictorial strip is moved, the gongwill sound to attract the attention j of the pupil. Eachpicturemaybedesignated by an appropriate word or title, which can bereprotfluced at the openings 7 by manipulating the keys 9 until theproper letters are exhibited in correct order. It is obvious, however,that the alpliabet-wheels can be used in spelling-exereises withoutreferring to the pictures or characters on the pictorial strip, whichcan therefore be omitted or be covered by a screen.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a kiinlergartcn teaching apparatus, thecombination, with a tiangei'l alphabetwheehof a key-lever having astandard at one end, a cord attached to the upper part of said standardand arranged in frictional cont-act with the flange of thealphal)etwliecl, a spring attached to the other end of said cord, and asupport for said spring, substantially as described.

2. In a kindergarten teaching apparatus, the combination, with acup-shaped or flanged alphabet-wheel having ratchet-teeth struck fromits closed side, of a weigl'itcd pawl pivoted above said alphabet-wheelin position to engage its ratch( t.-teeth and prevent backlash, saidpawl being provided with a pivotal bearing on each side of the ratchctedalphabet-wheel, and having a ci'oss-1tiiece or brace that extends acrossthe flange of the wheel to stiffen the pawl and connect its pivotalbearings, sul'istantiall y as described.

3. In a kindergarten teaching ap n'iratus, the combination of a seriesof flanged alphabet-wheels having projecting ratchet-teeth, pawls(mgaging said teeth to prevent backlash, means for indepeinlentlyrotating the alphabet-wheels, and a casing having in its face openingsto expose the letters or characters on the wheel-flanges, and providedbetween said openings with segmental grooves project ing from the faceof the casin g to receive the ratchet-teeth of the alphabet-wheel andper mit the letters on the w'lie l-flange.s to be exposed in closeproximity to the openings in the face of the easing,substantially asdescribed.

4. A kindergarten teachingapparatus, con1- prisin the wood cabinetcontaining a traveling pictorial strip rotating alphabet-wheels havingratchet-teeth and key-levers for the wheels, and a front wall. to thecabinet; composed of a sheet of metal provided with the top opening, 6,for exposing the pictures, a transverse line of openings, 7, forexposing the alphabeteletters, grooves 10, for the ratchetteeth, and atransverse bottom opening, 8,

. through which the keys project, and having its top, bottom, andopposite side edges bent inward to form flanges, which are secured tothe inner sides of the cabinet, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

II()'\\'ARI) BODEY.

lVitnesses:

JAMES A. RU'IHERFOR'D, GEO. W. REA.

